Parking a car can be an uphill task, especially for beginners. It could be that the parking spaces are not large or the lot has less space. There are three different types of parking spaces found in parking lots: Parallel, angled, and perpendicular. You might need to take car parking lessons videos before taking a driver’s exams or hitting the road.
So, are you a new driver? Do you find parking your vehicle a difficult task? Worry no more because this article addresses various tips on how to park a car like a pro. All you need to do is follow the guideline stated out on how to park a car step by step.
How to Park in a Perpendicular Lot
1. Take the Right Position
Always approach a perpendicular lot at a reasonable distance from other vehicles in the parking lot. Depending on the parking lot, the space to park might be either right or left.
Ensure your car is at least 8 feet far from other vehicles in the parking lot on the driver’s or passenger’s side. Make sure you have an 8-foot distance from your car to the spaces when there are no cars near you. While doing this, ensure not to take another person’s parking position.
2. Make Sure the Signal Is On
Turning on the signal, let alerts other drivers of your intention to park in a free spot — lookout for pedestrians, cars, or any other obstacles. Until the front bumper of your vehicle passes the rear light of the other automobile close to the parking spot, you have to keep driving forward.
3. Steer Your Wheel
As your front bumper crosses the backlight of the car parked next to yours, you will need to steer more than when you are parking at an angled spot.
Drive forward and pull into space, but ensure they aren’t any objects, debris, or shopping carts on the way. Keep moving until the back of your car is in the space, and the front is facing the area.
To do this, adjust your side mirror to be in line with those in the car beside yours. Ensure your front bumper is not in the front space, and the backside of your vehicle is not coming out of the parking space.
4. Align Your Wheels
Straighten the wheels once your car is in the parking space. You can also do this when leaving your space before you start reversing the vehicle.
How to Park a Car in an Angled Spot
1. Find a Less Crowded Parking Space
Practicing in a parking lot is more comfortable when done in a parking space, not surrounded by many cars. Mistakes are likely to occur.
Thus people learning how to drive or haven’t driven in a long time should park in an area with no car before driving for long-distance. It’s also easier to learn how to park a vehicle backward in an empty parking lot.
2. Place Your Car
You have to ensure that the gap between any other parked vehicle and yours is at least 5 or 6 feet.
Ensure a five or 6-foot distance away from other cars in the lot. This measure helps when parking because the rest of the steps come in handy while cutting your wheel.
3. Alert When You Have Found a Parking Spot
Alerting other drivers when you have detected a parking space to let them know where you want to park. Drive forward until you can see the middle of the parking spot you want to occupy.
Be careful while doing this and ensure not to take some one’s space. Check if anyone is trying to back-out of the spot close to you as you are driving forward.
4. Steer the Wheel
Once you can see the middle of the parking spot, turn the wheel. While doing that ensures that the car still maintains a distance of 5 -6 feet from any parked vehicle or other empty parking space. When turning the wheel, make sure they are no objects in the spot. Proceed into the area and stop the moment your car is in a spot to prevent getting a ticket.
5. Align Your Wheel
Once you stop your vehicle, ensure your wheel is straight to enable you back out of your spot. Do this when you park your car.
How to Park in a Parallel Lot
1. Locate the Right Space
You will need to locate a preferred area where you can park your car without hitting the vehicle either in front of you or behind you.
Parking lots with parallel spaces, singled out with white lines are a lot easier to park than on the street. Watch out for areas in the extreme of the lot as it’s easier to navigate. You can park in such spaces even when using a long car.
In a situation where you need to search for a wide enough space, you will have to find one that is many feet longer than your car.
When you finally locate a preferred spot, make sure no vehicle is riding the same way using your mirror. Remember to make a signal, slow down, and then stop. If you have a rider behind, you can tell them to go around you while you are still maintaining your position.
2. Move Carefully
To park between two vehicles, you must first secure a 2-foot distance between your car and other vehicle in front of your space. Getting too close to the one in front can lead to scraping of the other vehicle. Ensure your car’s bumper is in line with the other vehicles, staying at least 2 feet behind it.
3. Use Your Side Mirrors
To do this, ensure that the space behind you free is by making use of the driver’s side mirror. Check the space by looking over your shoulder. Move backward until your bumper reaches about 3-4 feet in the back of the vehicle close to you.
Free the brakes to move the wheel to the right and back up into space. Always check the front and around your car, to ensure other vehicles don’t get in your way.
Keep a distance of 2 to 3 feet between your car and the vehicle in front of you. Thus, you won’t have to scrap another car. You can use the mirrors to know the distance between your rear bumper and the car behind. Switch your gears to drive and move forward a few feet, so you don’t hit the curb.
4. Turn to the Left by Rotating the Steering Wheel
You can do this once your front wheel is close to the back bumper, then reverse backward. Don’t forget to check the side to ensure no car is in front. Use the side and back mirrors to know how far your vehicle is from the one behind you.
5. Drive In
Turn your vehicle in the space to the right using your steering wheel. Proceed towards the bend and align your car in the area.
When you are within 30cm of the curve, park, and then disengage the key. Mastering this type of parking is a regular practice.
Do not run from awkward parking positions. Instead, try to park your car and learn from each experience. That way, you will learn how to park a car between two cars.
Final Words
You don’t need to search through how to park a car YouTube for you to know how to get it done. All it takes is constant practice and the right guidance. Follow our guide on how to park a car step by step and become a pro today.